by Steve Shaw

PORT VALE manager Micky Adams insists his squad will need to be fighting fit next season to cope with his uncompromising and fast-paced brand of football.

Adams got acquainted with his new squad yesterday when they regrouped for pre-season training, before pushing them to the limit on the hills of Hanley's Forest Park.

According to Adams, the workout was a taste of things to come.

He explained: "I want to play in a certain way, and to do that they've got to be fit.

"The base of our fitness will dictate how we play to a certain degree, but I'd like to play 'in-your-face' football, and I make no apologies for it.

"Fitness is important in League Two as well because ball retention is minimal.

"With the greatest respect to these boys, if they could pass it as well as the players in the Premier League they would be up there playing at that sort of level too.

"But because the ball retention is poor they spend a lot of time chasing the ball."

One player missing from full training yesterday was goalkeeper Joe Anyon, who is continuing his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered in the March 28 defeat at Chesterfield.

However, the 22-year-old has already resumed light training, including bike work, as he bids to be fit for the start of Vale's League Two campaign on August 8.

Anyon is due to visit a specialist tomorrow, although Adams is still unsure when he will return to full training.

Meanwhile, Adams is refusing to put a timescale on when he intends to fill the club's vacant player-coach role.

But while he is remaining tight-lipped over the runners and riders, Adams revealed he would be to speaking to a couple of potential candidates before the end of this week.

However, Vale have appointed Sevvy Aslam, aged 39, as their new youth development officer.

He has been promoted from his coaching role with the club's school of excellence and will co-ordinate the development of players aged seven to 16 seven-to-16-year-olds.

Aslam, from Hanley, is a former player with non-league sides Eastwood Hanley and Rocester.

He officially started his new job yesterday, while his predecessor Bill Chetwyn will delay his retirement to oversee the transition.

Chetwyn, who first joined Vale's youth set-up more than two decades ago, said: "Sevvy is a very committed, honest and sincere individual and I have every confidence he will be successful."